NYCIII RESOLUTIONS

RESOLUTIONS OF THE THIRD NATIONAL YOUTH CONVENTION (NYC III), 11th -11th – 12th AUGUST 2007
“RECREATING OUR REPUBLIC- AMBITIONS OF A GENERATION”
Our Mission, Our commitment
STRATEGY: “ORGANIZE, LIBERATE, RE-CREATE OUR REPUBLIC”

Draft


PRE-AMBLE
We, the delegates to the 3rd National Youth Convention (NYC III) 2007 held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) between 11th and 12th August 2007

UPLIFTED AND INSPIRED by the success, triumphs and progressive young of Kenya have witnessed 10 years after the first NYC in March 1997 and the NYC 2 of February 1998; in the fields of entrepreneurship, politics, sports and the arts, in the voluntary and civic sectors, the public service, the corporate sector, the trade unions, the professions and in the gender and children and other movements;

KNOWING that we live in a period in the brief history of our independence faced with major challenges including leadership challenges, youth marginalization and disempowerment, national economic, cultural and technological dependence; national governance and identity crises; poverty, HIV AIDS, regional, social, gender and intergenerational inequalities and injustices; globalization and its concerns like terrorism, war, climate change/ global warming and environmental destruction among other challenges;

WILLING, CAPABLE AND COMMITTED to organize, to liberate, transform and recreate our republic from its current state of neglect, plunder and disorganization; as a strategy towards building a democratic, prosperous, just, equitable, peaceful, and secure nation as a starting point of leveraging our nation to play a decisive role in the African and global stage;

FURTHER DEDICATING OURSELVES as young people to sacrifice, devote and offer ourselves to undertake this our mission with commitment, passion, integrity, discipline, founded on principles and values

Do hereby resolve as follows


1. ON RECREATING THE REPUBLIC: THE AMBITIONS OF OUR GENERATION

1.1. That the 3rd national Youth Convention hereby adopts as its guiding document the “Re-creating our Republic, The ambitions of a generation” as its Program and call for its continuous review and updating; and for the widest circulation of the document to all young people and to key public and private actors in our politics, enterprise, social realms, to international partners and to other stakeholders.

The NYC III further makes the following declarations and resolutions (highlights 1.2- 1.7) to be read together with the text of “Recreating our Republic, The Ambitions of a Generation”.

1.2. Employment, Entrepreneurship and Investment:

Acknowledging the high rates of unemployment and underemployment in Kenya,
Recognizing that entrepreneurship and financial investment is the best alternative to secure livelihoods,
We hereby resolve:
• To establish an online network that promotes and educates youth on Investment ;
• To promote a culture of savings and investment among young people ;
• Establish a Youth Economic Committee that shall – establish decentralized business solution and incubation centres;
• Increase participation and representation of youth in devolved funds to ensure access of funds to youth (CDF, LATF affirmative action in disbursement)
• Promote equity in employment (affirmative action);
• Review of the Employment Act: Living wage, Advertised rates for foreigners same as Kenyans;
• Promote tax exemption for embryonic youth enterprises for up to 5 years
1.1.1 Facilitative environment
i. That provision of electricity and infrastructure in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid areas to facilitate livestock products processing in abattoirs, this shall be through the local authorities, constituency development funds, youth enterprise development fund and other devolved funds.

1.3. Corruption and Governance

Noting with concern that our leaders past and present have continued to perpetuate corruption at the expense of Kenyans,
Recognizing that good governance is central to the advancement of our nation,
We the Group discussing issues pertinent to corruption and good governance seek to address the national crisis we are in by ensuring that the need to have a criteria-based election strategy is put in place.
We therefore state that:
1. We shall not vote for people who have been publicly mentioned as being involved in corruption;
2. We shall not vote for people who have shown disregard for the respect of human rights and rule law; and
3. Keeping in mind that there is need to balance between experience and the energy of youth, we nevertheless will deliberately seek to ensure that there is an increase in young people as parliamentary and/or civic representatives.



1.4. Transitional Justice


Noting that we must make the decision to confront past injustices through establishing truth, accountability/ prosecution, reparation, institutional reform, memorilization and reconciliation ;
Noting that colonial and post –independence injustices are continuously manipulated and perpetuated;
Noting that there is a lack of political goodwill to tackle and undertake transitional justice policy;
Noting the importance of accountability, breaking culture of denial and silence, and unmasking manipulation and distortion of truth;
Noting and aware of the forthcoming general elections and its implication to the young people and future of the Kenya;

• Campaign for the establishment of mechanisms to facilitate comprehensive transitional justice to bear in Kenya;
• Advocate and lobby for an affirmative action to address historical socio-economic and decision making marginalization of the young people ;
• Vehemently resist rehabilitation and repackaging of perpetrators of injustices and violations ; and
• Institute and launch massive campaign for lustration and vetting of the people intending to occupy public office either elective or appointment.


1.5. Towards a new constitutional dispensation and institutional framework for our republic

1.5.1. That the young people of Kenya reject the prevailing current constitution. We declare that this constitution in neither popular, homegrown nor does it serve the values and interests of the majority of the people of Kenya.
1.5.2. That NYC is hereby mandated to facilitate the Publication of a young people compiled Draft Constitution of Kenya; improving on all the drafts and constitutional proposals so far developing and effectively resolving the critical areas of contestation.
1.5.3. That the youth inspired and driven Draft constitution be prepared by an NYC III technical committee.
1.5.4. That NYC III establishes 210 constituency Youth Assemblies to offer the youth organs to coordinate and enforce a new constitutional order in Kenya
1.5.5. That young people reject the division and polarization of the country on the basis of regionalism and negative ethnicity. We shall through the new constitution ordain common values that apply to all of s Kenyans to unite us as a nation.
1.5.6. That we actively oppose all legal, political and other tactics being applied by the current regime to further entrench the unacceptable system that violates the rights of young people and Kenyans. We shall oppose the passage of the Media Bill and other retrogressive laws that Parliament has passed aimed at slowing democratization in Kenya.
1.5.7. That we as the young people of Kenya demand for reforms now, which reform process is going to be owned by the young people effective this NYC III.

1.5.8. That young people shall apply various Strategies aimed at securing a proper process for negotiating and agreeing on a new constitution and
1.5.9. Civic education on the constitution to be carried out in all parties of the country targeting all sectors and citizens.
1.5.10. Mobilizing young people to participate in all constitution forums and in particular the constitutional drafting and negotiation bodies.

1.6. Inequality and Identity

We, the participants of the NYC III inequality and identity group having extensively discussed the issue in the context of institutions, education and affirmative action:
Note with concern, the lack of transparent and democratic mechanisms to facilitate equitable participation of youth within all areas of policy and development processes, including spaces in civil society;
Aware of the urgent need to reform the education sector to equip youth with appropriate skills to meet the modern challenges of economic, social and political development;
Bearing in mind that youth and other groups in the peripheries of society are not a homogenous group;
Recognising the need for a national recognition of the crimes of historical dispossession, invisibility, injustices and discrimination against vulnerable, minorities and marginalized groups of our society;

We hereby resolve to:
 Proactively engage in developing synergy and identify strategies that ensure meaningful, adequate and equitable representation of youth in institutions and platforms, including and not limited to the Parliament, Civic and local authority spaces;
 Call for the reform of the education sector to emphasize on talent development as well as provision of free or affordable secondary, professional and technical education;
 Lobby the government, political parties and private sector to put in place laws and institutional frameworks that ensure affirmative action in investment and other economic opportunities for youth; and
 Begin a campaign to ensure that the 50 parliamentary seats designated for women be reserved for young women and women from marginalized communities (physically challenged and minority groups).

Proposed by: TBC
Seconded by: Charles Asiyo, Rift Valley Province





2. YOUNG PEOPLE’S POLITICAL AGENDA IN 2007

2.1. That Young people will engage in the 2007 general elections on the platform of the following 11 Principles;

i. To establish a strong equitable economy that support Kenyan entrepreneurship, savings and capital formation, employment creation and greater investments in Kenyan industries by the people of Kenya and particularly young people.
ii. To end corruption and institute clean accountable government by putting in place a leadership that shall review the legal framework governing the fight against corruption.
iii. To end social conflict and ethnic tensions by establishing new systems
iv. To Addressing historical injustices that have affected the women of Kenya, marginalized and minority communities, communities who have suffering human rights violations and atrocities. We need a truth Justice and reconciliation framework
v. To facilitate and advocate for the enactment of a new constitutional dispensation through a Constitutional reform process that is effective and people driven and informed by the youth interests.
vi. To overhaul all colonial laws, reform those laws that impinge on the people’s economic, political and social freedoms and rights and enact new progressive laws.
vii. To overhaul the justice system to increased access to justice by reforming the penal system, the judiciary and its rules and by reforming the relevant laws to uphold human rights and freedoms.
viii. To put in policies to revamp water safety, access and catchments areas protection and to revamp the environmental conservation policies to secure our country from further depletion and destruction.
ix. To overhaul Kenya’s subservient and reactionary foreign policy and put in place an independent foreign policy of peace that shall protect Kenyan interests, instigate the speedy realization of Regional integration and African unity, and promote the principle co-existence of states with different social systems, respect the sovereignty of other states, respect for human rights and freedoms as enshrined in the U.N. Universal declaration of Human Rights and the respect of other principles of international law.

2.2. That the specific targets of the young people of Kenya in the 2007elections shall be the following;

2.2.1. To field 180 youthful candidates across the countries.
2.2.2. To support political parties which organize on the basis of progressive nationalistic and transformational platforms. We shall name, shame and discourage fellow young people from supporting parties that organize on the basis of ethnic ideology and reactionary politics.
2.2.3. That the current crop of Members of Parliament and political leaders be voted out in toto for betraying the aspirations of Kenyans.

2.3. That we hereby endorse the Women and Youth Alliance (WAYA). We shall establish 210 constituency youth Assemblies that will coordinate the electoral agenda and a National Youth agenda that is coordinated at the apex by a WAYA electoral Support Centre to be located at the Youth Agenda.

2.4. That the WAYA candidates shall commit themselves to a post election action plan that shall be developed and coordinated by the WAYA.

Proposed by:
Seconded by: John Odeyo, Nyanza Province

3. ON REGIONAL INTEGRATION AND AFRICAN UNITY (removed)

Amendment: all statements on, or relating to African unity to be removed until substantive discussions are had on this very important and controversial issue.

We resolve;

3.1. That African unity is a priority. It is the framework through which political, moral and social accountability shall be enhanced and realized within our nations and societies in Africa. The end to the atrocities, murders, poverty, deprivation and dehumanizing conditions of our people all over the continent who continue to suffer under the hands of unpatriotic, despotic and fascist regimes such as in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Uganda, Sudan, Chad, Nigeria, the Gambia and Zimbabwe and in failed states such as Somalia, among other countries can not be ended within the current AU principles of non interference in internal affairs of member states. The formation of United States of Africa will hasten the process towards ending impunity clothed within the paragraphs of state sovereignty. Impunity, fueled by illegitimate militaries that serve no good than as consumers and markets for European, North American and developed countries’ military industry weapons of human destruction shall be uprooted with the establishment of the an African government. (Remove or rephrase)

3.2. That we support the formation of Pax Africa (An African Military) and the formation of the United states of Africa (USAf). The young people shall only vote for a presidential candidate in the 2007 elections who unequivocally rejects the minimalist-gradualist stance taken by most African leaders and governments including President Mwai Kibaki towards the urgent and progressive Panafricanist demand for African integration and unity. Young people shall therefore undoubtedly endorse leaders who champion for the fast tracking of African Unity and the formation of a United States of Africa.
3.3. That the young people of Kenya shall only support candidates for parliamentary and presidential seats and political Parties that unreservedly endorse the immediate and urgent mission of East African political integration and African integration. (remove)
3.4. That the Young people of Kenya shall hence forth establish forums and campaigns for the fast tracking of the East African Federation and for African Unity (remove) where political education, awareness and mobilization for this value shall feature.

Proposed by: TBC
Seconded by: TBC


4. ON GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS AND TRADE

4.1. Young people shall support partnerships that are founded on principles of justice, empowerment of poor economies and nations, promote local investors and
4.2. That young people shall not support the principle of free trade but fair trade that appreciates that free trade is not achievable under highly protectionist regimes operated by the developed world while poor countries are forced to endorse catastrophic trade policies including unmitigated liberation, privatization, zero tax zones, deregulation and removal of tariffs to open up markets for developed countries.
4.3. That young people have and here by reject the EPA framework arising from the ACP-EU framework. The EPA framework shall further enslave the African peoples and return their economies under the control the Europeans and other develops countries.
4.4. That young demand that
4.5. That reform to the WTO spearheaded by African countries be undertaken urgently to ensure the WTO is used by the rich and powerful member countries to entrench unfair trade as is the situation today.
4.6. That reforms to the UN security council and the Assembly be undertaken

Proposed by: TBC
Seconded by: Jane Koske, Rift Valley Province


5. ON AID, DONOR DEPENDENCY AND OUR ECONOMY

5.1. That foreign financial, technical and other strategic aid that has since independence been channeled to the Kenyan government, NGOs, trade unions, religious bodies and other civil society organizations and movements has institutionalized dependency, conditioned our county’s development and foreign policy to serve foreign interests, has disempowered our people and led to a debt crisis. Foreign development Aid has insulated our government from political accountability and created a climate where corruption and violation of Human rights are operated with impunity.
5.2. That while aid is useful in promoting the realization of development goals and in particular the Millennium Development goals and other development projects and initiatives, young people demand that a national aid- weaning plan be put in place that shall make Kenya and the East African Community/ Federation an aid-free zone over the next 10 years.

Proposed by: TBC
Adopted by: Steven Otieno, Nyanza Province


6. ON YOUNG PEOPLE TAKING OVER LEADERSHIP BY 2012
6.1. That young people shall consolidate the gains made over the last 10 years of structured engagement by unveiling the youth Movement organized around the National Youth Convention. All progressive and competent Youth movements in Kenya shall be consolidated under one umbrella body supported by the NYC framework.

6.2. That the NYC shall be organized around;
i. A common Young people’s nationalist, progressive and revolutionary vision and agenda.
ii. A common mission to promote the realization of the ambitions of our generation and to combat all threats to the realization collectively and
iii. Common values, standards, principles and code of conduct.
iv. Appropriate innovative, effective and efficient strategies and structures.
v. A membership that shall include young people in enterprise, politics, civic and voluntary sector, youth in sports and the arts, scholarship and academia
6.3. That young people shall coordinate the take over in all the social, state and market institutions inspired by the principle of intergeneration equity using the various
6.4. That young candidates who meet the requisite standards and ethical and other qualifications as shall be stipulated by young people shall be fielded in all the parliamentary and civic seats
6.5. That young people shall field a young presidential candidate

Proposed by: TBC
Seconded by: Connie Matendechere


7. ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RESOLUTIONS: MECHANISMS AND OPERATIONALIZATION STRATEGIES

7.1. That the 4th National Youth Convention (NYC IV) be organized within the next one year to offer young people a chance to evaluate the implementation of the NYC III resolutions and to plan forward.
7.2. That the 4th National Youth Convention (NYC IV) should be organized informed by the following standards and guidelines;
 Young people should contribute finances, skills, information, networks and other resources to facilitate the effective convening of the convention


Proposed by: Maurice Wekesa, Western Province
Seconded by: S.K. Waithaka, Coast Province

Provision:
1. That there be follow up discussions to inform the implementation of the resolutions of the NYC III.
2. That young Kenyans will decentralize the Convention to allow for implementation of the resolutions at grassroots level.